Pipe grappler



1965 H. o. KESKITALO 3,165,347

PIPE GRAPPLER Filed May 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HOWARD O. KESKITALO ATTORNE Y5 Jan. 12, 1965 H. o. KESKITALO 3,165,347

PIPE GRAPPLER Filed May 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HOWARD O. KEsK/rA LO ATTORNEYS United States Patent be used in conjunction with a lift fork of a vehicle for transporting cylindrical articles having various diameters.

. The problem of preventing damage to a pipe while 1t 3,165,347 Patented Jan. 12, 1965 onto the clamping arm by pivot pin 20. The hydraulic jack operatively communicates witha suitable hydraulic power source of the vehicle/in order to selectively pivot the clamping arm with respect to the tine for pipe securing purposes, as shown.

Novelconcepts of this invention comprise the arrangement of one or more shoes or seating means 21 on the tine which function to cooperate with shoes or second seating means 22 and 23 arranged on the clamping arm for snugly securing-a pipe therebetween. Shoe 23 is pivotally mounted on pin 24 and thus adapted for adjustment to pipes-having various diameters.

is being transported by the lift fork of a vehicle, for

example, is particularly apparent when such a vehicle must adapt itself to pipes having various diameters. This problem is greatly pronounced when it is desired to transport pipe comprising a wrapped outer layer of impregnated cloth onfelt which is relatively fragile in nature. ,When such a pipe is clamped or otherwise secured to a transporting vehicle, it is generally marred or damaged. 'These pipes may range up to 80 feet in length and 26,500 lbs. in weight; i

, Attempts have been made to remedy this problem by employing resilie'nt pads on the lift fork of the vehicle or by utilizing chain-like clamping devices, etc. Such solutions have'not fully solved the'problem of preventing damage to the transported pipes, particularly of the fragile This; invention'has overcome the above described difliculties by providing 'a pipe grappl'er which is adapted to prevent damage to pipes of various sizes. I The grappler comprises a first seating means for snugly receiving and adapting itself to pipes of various sizes and an adjustable second seating means which is pivotally mounted to be selectively arranged in opposed relation to the first seating means for also snugly retaining the pipe. With this ar= rangement, pipes of various sizes may be safely trans 1 ported without incurring damage thereto.

object of this invention is to provide a pipe grappler for transpprting cylindrical articles of various sizes without incurring d'amage'thereto.

g'rapple'r which may be easily adapted for use with a lift fork of a vehicle whereby pipes of various sizes may be expeditiously and safely transported. s

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe grappler which is relatively'simple and durable in construction and efficient-in operation. f

Other and more specific objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description anddrawings whereim' v FIG; 1. is an elevational view disclosing the pipefgrappler of thisinvention as it would appear in operative association 'with a vehicle lift fork and'securi ng a pipe having a first given diametertherein; and

FIGSQ'2-5, inclusive',,disclose the pipe grappler of FIG. 1 as it would appear in securing relationship with pipes having progressively smaller diameters than the pipe shown in FIG. 1.

-As disclosed in FIG. 1, laterally spaced lift arms 10 (only one is shown) pivotallymount a standard 11 of the grappler by means of pivot shaft 12. Tilt arms 13 A further object of "this invention is to provide a pipe 7 (only one is shown) are pivotedfon the'standard by means of a pivot shaft.14. Thus, the grappler may be selectively lifted.by means of arms lli and tilted by arms 13 p in a conventional manner.

A tine 15 is'secured to the standard 11 and has one or more clamping arms 16 mounted thereon by pivot shaft 17. One or more hydraulic jacks 18 are pivotally secured (pivot not shown) to the standard and provide a reciprocating piston rod 19 which is pivotally mounted Asshown in FIG. 1, the pipe grappler is adapted to snugly secure pipes P P ,.P P .and P having centers C C respectively. As shown for illustration purposes,

. the shoe 21 is formed Withffirst arcuate surface portions The pivotal shoe 23 has a resilient padding 27 bonded V to an arcuate surface 23a thereof which preferably conforms to the outside dimensions of intermediately sized pipe P YDuring the clamping of any particular pipe, shoe 23 is held in position by means of a removable pin 28 which cooperates with one of two apertures formed in a lug 29 of the clamping arm and further cooperates with one of the five adjusting apertures 30 formed in the bifurcated side plates of shoe 23. I p

. In the position shownin FIG. l,.the grappling mechanism is effective to firmly secure pipe P through the resilient paddin'gs by means. of surfaces 21a of shoe 21, surface portions 22a and the surface portionsatthe other end of shoe 22, and the extreme end portions of surface 7 23a of shoe 23. Due to this unique arrangement, under the clamping pressure,- the. resilient paddings spreadout somewhat to afford surface rather than line contact-at the extreme end portionsof surface portions 234 of shoe 23, for example. As will be hereinafter more fully un derstood, this action provides a tolerance which is utilized to adapt the grappler to pipes having a relatively vvid range of outside diameters. A t 7 It, shouldbe further noted in FIG. 1 that-the are which, is struck by a radiusextending from pivot pin 17 to the center, of pipe P QlIItBI'SeCtS the centers of all of the pipes. Thus, shoes 21 and 22 may be arranged' and shoe 23 may be adjusted with respect to the particular pipe secured in order to impart the maximum of reaction forces on the shoes toward the center of'such a, pipe. Also, the reaction forces of shoe 21 are at all times substantiallydirectly opposed to the reaction forces of shoes 22 and. 23 to thus prevent adistortion orother:

1 through a 'second adjustment aperture formed in the shoe and a second aperture formed in lug 29. The hydraulic jack is then actuated to pivot the clamping arm closer to the standard 11 to secure a pipe P therein which has a relatively smaller diameter than pipe P As shown, none of the surfaces formed on the shoes exactly match the outside vdimensions of pipe P However, the resilient paddings will slightly spread to afford I sufficient surface contacts similar to those shown in FIG. I

1 so that the pipe will not be damaged. Thus, the'surface portions 21a of shoe 21, for example, will afford substantial seating support to the relatively smaller pipe. FIG. 3 discloses the grappling mechanism rearranged with the clamping a'r-m pivotedand the shoe 23 adjusted in the hereinbefore described manner for securing a third a pipe P having a still smaller diameter. As hereinbe-' fore stated, surface portions 21b ofshoe zL-su'rface portions 22b ofshoe 22, and surfaceportions23'a of shoe 23 form curved surface portions conforming to the outer dimensions' of this pipe. Thus, the pipe will be firmly 'seface formed thereon having a diameter adapted to conform to the outer periphery of, the cylindricalarticle having the largest'outsidediameter and further having a second arcuate surface portion ofga diameter adapted cured without having to employ the inherent tolerances afforded by the resilient paddings. FIGS.4 and disclose pipesP and P respectively, secured by the grappler in' much the same manner ashereinbeforedescri-bed in connection with-;FIGS.- 1-3. In jthese cases, the resilient paddings will function in much the same manner. as hereinbefore discussed in connection, with FIG. 2 in order to affordsurface contacts substantiallysimilar to those disclosed in FIG. 3.

In actual practice pipes P P P P and P have been constructed to have outside diameters of 36, 34,

30, 28' and 24 inches, respectively. Thus, it 'hasbeen found that the novel concepts of this invention may be applied to a range of pipe diameters Where thesmallest pipe has a diameter which is two-thirds'that of the largest pipe. It should be understood, however, that'the novel concepts of this invention may be applied to pipes having a slightly wider range of outside diameters different from that above mentioned so long as the novel securing features of this invention are used. V Also, although paddings have been mentioned as applied to the seating surfaces of the shoes, such padding may not be necessary in many transportation operations wherein the compensation features afforded by the unique arrangement of the arcuate seating surfaces are sufficient to prevent damage to the transported "article." It

should be further understood that more individual arcuate surface portions may be formed, on the shoes if so desired. For example, shoe 21 may be formed with a third arcuatefsurface portion atthe mid-portion thereof,"

iconfbrming tothe outside diameter of. pipe P I'c'laim:

1. A 'grappler mounted one vehicle for snugly secur-' ing cylindrical articles of circularicros's-section having a predetermined range of outside diameters defined by a first cylindrical article withfthe largest outside diameter'anda second cylindrical article with the smallest outsidevdiameter comprising: a first tine member having first seating means fixedly mounted thereon, said first 1 tine'member arranged to :be held in astationary p'osi tion relative'to said vehicle, a second tine member pivotally mounted on the first tine member, meanslforpiw otingsaid second tine member relative to the first time member, saidse'condtine member having a second seatingmeans'thereon arranged in opposed relationship to said first-seating-means, said, first seatingmeans having a pair of first arcuate surface portions formed thereon each having a diameter adapted toconform to thelouter to conform to the outer periphery of'the cylindrical ar ticle having the smallest outside diameter, so that an are formed by a movement of a fixed radius extending from said pivot point of said tine members to a position intermediate the seatingmeans and arranged to pass'through the axis of said first cylindrical article, when the first cylindrical article is secured between said seating meana; also. passes through the axis of ,said second cylindricpi" articleQw'hen said second 'cylindricaiarticle 'is' secured between said seating means. e i g V 5 7' 2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising resilient padding ,means 'formedtonthe arcuatefsurface' portionsofsaid first and second seatingmeans for. aid ing in the provision of a surface-to-sur'face contactwith saidarticles, when they are held in sai'd grappler.

' 3. The'invention of claim 1 further, comprising means for adjustably attaching a portion. of said second seating means to said second tine member for aiding the grap pler to adapt itself to said articles. 7 1

4. A pipe 'grappler mounted on a vehicle for-gripping at least a first cylindrical articleand asecondcylindrical article having a smaller outside radius than the first cylindri cal article comprising: a first tine member arranged to be held in a stationary position reiative to said vehicle and having a first shoe fixedly secured thereto,-" a shaft on said first tine memberpivotally mounting a' secondtine member, means'for pivoting said second tine member relative to said first tine member, a second shoe fixedly mounted on saidse'cond tine member, atpivot-pin on' said shoes.

periphery 'o'f the cylindrical article having the largest outside diameter and further having a second arcuate 'surp face portion formed thereon having a diameter adapted to conform to'the outer periphery of the cylindricalarticle having the smallest outside diameter, said second arcuate surface portion being formed between the pair M of first arcuate surface portions on said first seating means,

said second seating means with 'at least one arcuatesursaid secondtine member mounting ,3. third shoeadjacent to said second shoe,; adjustment means between said third shoe and said second tine member adjacent to said pivot shaft to fix 'said shoe 'in selective angular positions on said-pivot pin so an are formed by a movement of' a'fixed radius extending from the center of saidkpivot' shaft to a position intermediate saidshoes and arranged toipassthrough the axis of saidfirst cylindrical article Iwhen said firstcylindrieal article is gripped between said first, second, and third sho'e's 'pas'ses throughtheaxis of said second cylindrical articlev when .saidsecon'd cylindrical article is gripped between saidfirst, second and; third shoes, the axis of said first cylinder-forminga cen-v UNITED STATES "P TEN 486,764 Carpentera"; 1 22,192

1,897,360 wear a I .IMay 26, .1931

, 2,752,055.? Hoppert June 26,1956

3,034,821 v Hackett'et al. *.May 15, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS,"

Great Britain 'of 1911 References Cited in the file of 'this patent I 

1. A GRAPPLER MOUNTED ON A VEHICLE FOR SNUGLY SECURING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES OF CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION HAVING A PREDETERMINED RANGE OF OUTSIDE DIAMETERS DEFINED BY A FIRST CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE WITH THE LARGEST OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND A SECOND CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE WITH THE SMALLEST OUTSIDE DIAMETER COMPRISING: A FIRST TIME MEMBER HAVING FIRST SEATING MEANS FIXEDLY MOUNTED THEREON, SAID FIRST TINE MEMBER ARRANGED TO BE HELD IN A STATIONARY POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID VEHICLE, A SECOND TINE MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FIRST TINE MEMBER, MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID SECOND TINE MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE FIRST TINE MEMBER, SAID SECOND TINE MEMBER HAVING A SECOND SEATING MEANS THEREON ARRANGED IN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST SEATING MEANS, SAID FIRST SEATING MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF FIRST ARCUATGE SURFACE PORTIONS FORMED THEREON EACH HAVING A DIAMETER ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE HAVING THE LARGEST OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND FURTHER HAVING A SECOND ARCUATE SURFACE PORTION FORMED THEREON HAVING A DIAMETER ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE HAVING THE SMALLEST OUTSIDE DIAMETER, SAID SECOND ARCUATE SURFACE PORTION BEING FORMED BETWEEN THE PAIR OF FIRST ARCUATE SURFACE PORTIONS ON SAID FIRST SEATING MEANS, SAID SECOND SEATING MEANS WITH AT LEAST ONE ARCUATE SURFACE FORMED THEREON HAVING A DIAMETER ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE HAVING THE LARGEST OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND FURTHER HAVING A SECOND ARCUATE SURFACE PORTION OF A DIAMETER ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE HAVING THE SMALLEST OUTSIDE DIAMETER, SO THAT AN ARC FORMED BY A MOVEMENT OF A FIXED RADIUS EXTENDING FROM SAID PIVOT POINT OF SAID TINE MEMBERS TO A POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE SEATING MEANS AND ARRANGED TO PASS THROUGH THE AXIS OF SAID FIRST SECURED BETWEEN SAID SEATING MEANS, CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE IS SECURED BETWEEN SAID SEATING MEANS, ALSO PASSES THROUGH THE AXIS OF SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE, WHEN SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE IS SECURED BETWEEN SAID SEATING MEANS. 